Bad Brake Flush?
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Yeah, bleed em again.
You might need another person to help with depressing the pedal.
You might need another person to help with depressing the pedal.
2002 SLK 32 AMG, bone stock. 1987 190E 2.3-16 valve (destroyed). 2005 E320 new toy.
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If you have "soft" brakes and warning lights came on, there is little doubt that you have an air bubble somewhere.
If you want to bleed brakes by yourself, you really need a pressure brake bleeder to keep the flow constant, otherwise you need two people.
I have successfully bled the brakes with a pump style oil can from the individual caliper, but I don't think I'll tell how here, the liability repercussions are severe on the unproven (as far as I know) method.
If you want to bleed brakes by yourself, you really need a pressure brake bleeder to keep the flow constant, otherwise you need two people.
I have successfully bled the brakes with a pump style oil can from the individual caliper, but I don't think I'll tell how here, the liability repercussions are severe on the unproven (as far as I know) method.
If you don't have a pressure bleeder, the two-man method where you get to be at the caliper controlling the flow of the bleed is the way to go. My two different one-man kits for bleeding (one-way check valve unit and Mityvac vacuum pressure) just did not do a good job. I think the problem with the check valve method was air leaking around the bleed nipple/screw threads. Some teflon tape around the threads helps but it took multiple bleeds to bring back good pedal feel. I never had this problem bleeding brakes for any other car. As far as the Mityvac goes, it was worthless for some reason.
My $.02
My $.02
Speed bleeders are the way to go. Speed Bleeder Products, Inc Home
work great for flushing and once they are installed just leave them in.
work great for flushing and once they are installed just leave them in.
Pick them up at Auto zone, pep boys and such about $10.00 per pair.
The instuctions say keep pumping the brakes until you see a steady stream, how can you do that from inside the car??? Sounds like BS to me.
2000 C230 Mercedes Kompressor, 2004 Honda Civic, 1980 L48 Corvette
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317 Posts
I've bleed my brakes for the last 4 days and can't get pressure when ignition is on no matter what and I have the ESP BAS light. What a nightmare! Going to try to pressure bleed it just in case I have air in my MC but I'm about to turn grey haired shortly!
Get a second person to pump the brakes? :thumbsup:
How did you flush your fluid?/
I do mine a couple of ways (not necessarily on an SLK)
2 persons
Hold down brake pedal, furthest wheel 1st. crack open bleed, close straight away.
Lift pedal slowly.
Repeat again untol fluid color changes .
Do other wheels, ending on closest to MC.
Ensure MC stays over 1/2 full the whole time, top up at finish.
1 person.
Put tight fitting hose onto bleed nipple, crack open, pump pedal down, slowly raise, do a couple ot times as before,
checking MC etc, tighten bleed, go to next wheel.
1 person
Fit pressure bleed cap adaptor to MC, pump a few psi,
crack open bleed to let fluid run out as before, tighten, move to next wheel ensuring MC ful and pressure maintained.
Some times a "FAST" manua; crack of bleed is required to "PUSH" air out of a problem caliper.
Always close bleed BEFORE fluid stops running.
Bazzle
I do mine a couple of ways (not necessarily on an SLK)
2 persons
Hold down brake pedal, furthest wheel 1st. crack open bleed, close straight away.
Lift pedal slowly.
Repeat again untol fluid color changes .
Do other wheels, ending on closest to MC.
Ensure MC stays over 1/2 full the whole time, top up at finish.
1 person.
Put tight fitting hose onto bleed nipple, crack open, pump pedal down, slowly raise, do a couple ot times as before,
checking MC etc, tighten bleed, go to next wheel.
1 person
Fit pressure bleed cap adaptor to MC, pump a few psi,
crack open bleed to let fluid run out as before, tighten, move to next wheel ensuring MC ful and pressure maintained.
Some times a "FAST" manua; crack of bleed is required to "PUSH" air out of a problem caliper.
Always close bleed BEFORE fluid stops running.
Bazzle
Don't forget to check both chambers in the MC. One can get lower than the other and introduce air if you don't watch closely.
>>The instuctions say keep pumping the brakes until you see a steady stream, how can you do that from inside the car??? Sounds like BS to me. <<
Use a long clear tube that goes from the bleed nipple into a bottle/catch reservoir. Position the bottle so that you can see it directly (driver side) or within the range of your passenger side mirror (rear passenger side wheel) and borrow your wife/girlfriend's handheld vanity mirror to position it on the passenger window so that you can see the front wheel.
Bazzle is right as usual that bleeding is much more reliable if you can do the two person method (or use the pressure bleed kit from Motive) where you are at the wheel and can close the bleed screw while pressure is still forcing the fluid out at the moment you close the screw.
>>The instuctions say keep pumping the brakes until you see a steady stream, how can you do that from inside the car??? Sounds like BS to me. <<
Use a long clear tube that goes from the bleed nipple into a bottle/catch reservoir. Position the bottle so that you can see it directly (driver side) or within the range of your passenger side mirror (rear passenger side wheel) and borrow your wife/girlfriend's handheld vanity mirror to position it on the passenger window so that you can see the front wheel.
Bazzle is right as usual that bleeding is much more reliable if you can do the two person method (or use the pressure bleed kit from Motive) where you are at the wheel and can close the bleed screw while pressure is still forcing the fluid out at the moment you close the screw.
2002 SLK32AMG,1995 E320 Cab 1990 300CE(Gone).2002 ML320 (Gone)
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473 Posts
I've always used a tube with a check valve.
For many years I've been using a foot long piece of 1/4" clear plastic tube with a check valve on the end.
Simply place the tube on the bleed nipple give the nipple a 1/4 turn, pump the pedal a few times (making sure the reservoir is topped up). The old fluid ends up in a cup, stop pumping when it runs clear and re-tighten the bleed nipple.
I can do all 4 wheels in less than half an hour by myself.
There are a few different variations on this device which are widely available at auto parts stores for $5 or so. I've been bleeding brakes successfully like this for years.
For many years I've been using a foot long piece of 1/4" clear plastic tube with a check valve on the end.
Simply place the tube on the bleed nipple give the nipple a 1/4 turn, pump the pedal a few times (making sure the reservoir is topped up). The old fluid ends up in a cup, stop pumping when it runs clear and re-tighten the bleed nipple.
I can do all 4 wheels in less than half an hour by myself.
There are a few different variations on this device which are widely available at auto parts stores for $5 or so. I've been bleeding brakes successfully like this for years.
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